Calling for an investigation of gas-related explosions in the wake of the deadly blast in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo cited a "disturbing trend." But the perils of natural gas are nothing new in a city that depends on it for heating and cooking. Here are some other incidents of the last 20 years.
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March 20152 Die in East Village Restaurant
Twenty-three-year-old Nicholas Figueroa was on a date at Sushi Park, 121 Second Avenue, where Moises Ismael Locón Yac, 27, was employed. Both were killed when a gas explosion reduced the East Village building to rubble, damaged neighboring structures and injured four people critically. Inspectors had found a flexible hose attached to the gas line that was apparently used to divert gas to apartments upstairs.
"East Village Explosion Ignites Fire, Fells Buildings and Injures at Least 19," The New York Times, March 26, 2015; "Two Bodies Recovered at East Village Explosion Site," The New York Times, March 29, 2015; "East Village Explosion Might Have Followed Attempt to Hide Gas Siphoning," The New York Times, March 31, 2015; "Landlord's Lawyer Blames Con Ed in East Village Explosion," The New York Times, April 1, 2015.
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March 2014East Harlem Blast Kills 8
No other explosion of recent memory rivals the blast and fire that brought down two five-story apartment buildings, 1644 and 1646 Park Avenue, in East Harlem. More than 100 families were left homeless. Eight people were killed: George Amadeo, 44; Griselde Camacho, 44; Mayumi Nakamura, 34; Andreas Panagopoulos, 43; Jordy Salas, 22; Carmen Tanco, 67; Rosaura Barrios Vázquez, 43; and her daughter Rosaura Hernández Barrios, 21. Federal regulators cited failings both by Consolidated Edison and New York City leading up to the explosion.
"At Least 3 Killed as Gas Explosion Hits East Harlem," The New York Times, March 12, 2014; "Blast 'Ripped the Stomach Right Out of You,'" The New York Times, March 12, 2014; "Final Victim of Blast Is Identified," The New York Times, March 17, 2014; "Con Ed and New York City Are Faulted in East Harlem Explosion," The New York Times, June 9, 2015.
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April 2009House Explodes in Queens
Ghanwatti Boodram, 40, a nurse, was in her home at 80-50 260th Street in Floral Park, Queens, just before she was to leave to pick up her young sons at school. The house exploded, killing Mrs. Boodram and injuring six other people. An investigation found that faulty electrical wiring had set off a chain of events that created holes in the gas main, installed in 1950, allowing gas to escape and pool inside the house.
"House Explosion in Queens Kills One," The New York Times, April 24, 2009; "Residents Allowed to Return Home After Fatal Explosion in Queens," The New York Times, April 25, 2009; "House Exploded Just Before a Check, Con Ed Says," The New York Times, April 26, 2009; "Con Ed to Pay $1 Million to Settle Inquiry into Fatal Explosion," The New York Times, July 15, 2010.
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July 2008Trying to Light a Pilot in Queens
Just minutes after Con Edison crews had restored gas service to a building at 147-25 Sanford Avenue in Flushing, Queens, Edgar Zaldumbide, 43, tried to light the pilot of his stove. An explosion followed. He died several weeks later; his 2-year-old daughter was badly burned, and 15 others were also injured. A state investigation concluded that, among other failures, a Con Edison worker had failed to adequately check for gas leaks in the area.
"Gas Explosion Injures 17 in a Queens Building," The New York Times, July 26, 2008; "Cause Sought in Blast at Queens Building That Followed Gas Work," The New York Times, July 27, 2008.
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November 2007Blast on the Eve of Thanksgiving Kills a Woman in Queens
Clara Oza called her husband, Joe, to say she was concerned about the smell of gas in their home at 48-19 41st Street in Sunnyside, Queens. She left with their children, but Mr. Oza's mother, Kunta, 69, stayed behind. The older woman was critically burned when the house exploded. She died a day later. State regulators concluded that corrosion, as well as overall wear, had contributed to a crack in the gas main, which had been installed in 1927.
"Woman Burned in Explosion at Queens Home," The New York Times, Nov. 22, 2007; "Woman, 69, Dies From Injuries Suffered in Queens Gas Explosion," The New York Times, Nov. 23, 2007; "Fire and Con Ed Officials Defend Gas Leak Response," The New York Times, Nov. 24, 2007.
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October 2007Fatal Leak in a Harlem Apartment
A 29-year-old mother was mortally injured and her four daughters critically hurt when an explosion tore through their apartment at 10 West 119th Street in Harlem. Apparently gas had been leaking for days in the building. Alouf Hassan died three weeks after the blast without regaining consciousness. Duaa Alghaithi, 5; Twka, 4; Lina, 2; and Afaf, 15 months, all survived, but with severe injuries, disabilities and scars.
"An Explosion in Harlem; 20 People Are Injured," The New York Times, Oct. 7, 2007; "Harlem Blast Is Attributed to Gas Leak Behind Stove," The New York Times, Oct. 8, 2007; "A Fatal Explosion Leaves a Motherless Family to Deal With a Multitude of Scars," The New York Times, Aug. 26, 2008.
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July 2006Divorce Ends in an Explosion
"I always told you, ‘I will leave the house only if I am dead,'" Dr. Nicholas Bartha, 66, wrote in an email to his ex-wife, Cordula Hahn, referring to the fact that he was being compelled under their divorce agreement to sell the house at 34 East 62nd Street in Manhattan and share the proceeds with her. He was critically injured in the explosion that leveled the house, and later died. Ten firefighters and five passers-by were injured. While he was not formally accused of tampering with the gas line and causing the blast, Dr. Bartha was the prime suspect nonetheless.
"Blast Levels Manhattan Town House; Inquiry Focuses on Injured Owner," The New York Times, July 11, 2006; "Doctor Dies From Wounds Suffered in East Side Blast," The New York Times, July 17, 2006; "Land Leveled in Divorce Awaits Economy's Return," The New York Times, Jan. 6, 2012.
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July 2000Three Die on a Brooklyn Block
Harriet Walit, 66, and her husband, Leonard, 72, smelled gas just as they walked into the front door of their townhouse at 420 State Street, in the Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. They called over to their neighbors at No. 418 and Khay Cochran, 73, came over to check. All three were trapped inside and killed by a thunderous explosion. Fire marshals concluded that a leaky pipe in the Walits' house was to blame.
"Blast Levels a Brooklyn Building; 3 People Are Missing," The New York Times, July 12, 2000; "Residents' Thoughts Turn to Missing Couple," The New York Times, July 12, 2000; "Block's Hard-Won Spirit Torn in Fatal Blast," The New York Times, July 13, 2000; "Leaky Basement Pipe Blamed in Blast That Killed 3 in Brooklyn," The New York Times, Aug. 15, 2000.
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September 1996An Infernal Scene in Queens
John Sotomayor/The New York TimesWitnesses described blue flames shooting from the Hyo Shin Bible Presbyterian Church at 42-15 166th Street in Flushing, Queens, and burning wood, metal and bricks cascading from the sky. The explosion occurred about an hour before members of the congregation were to attend an early-morning prayer service. Ten people suffered minor injuries. In a settlement two years later, Con Edison agreed to pay more than $3 million to help rebuild the church.
"Blast in Queens Destroys a Church and Two Houses," The New York Times, Sept. 25, 1996; "Gas Leak Caused Blast at Queens Church," The New York Times, Nov. 21, 1996; "At Prayer and on Parade, a City Basks in Easter," The New York Times, March 31, 1997; "Con Ed to Help Rebuild Queens Church Destroyed in Blast," The New York Times, April 22, 1998.